Show us your Cars

[Ken1951]

LOL. No google searches please.

Didn't need one. 71 year old car junkie here. Spent 1983 - 1996 in the car biz as well! Dodge Stealth was the sister car to this.

 

[EJ3]

I had much the same opinion of SUV's that Frank Dernie does. Never wanted one....period. I did in recent years acquire one mid-size SUV. Needed it to transport people even older than me. Step in, step out, just general ergonomics for public highway use is actually outstanding. I to my great surprise fell in love with it.

Now I do keep two sports cars and can have the kind of engaging car when it is just me. I don't know if it is just getting old or what. It rather strikes me now as a matter or my real use and needs the sports cars are the goofy idea. Sort of trying to shoe horn a track car into daily driver use. Actually kind of foolish thinking I've had for so long. Sports cars are still much more fun, but as much as I'd like to think otherwise, fun driving is a rather minority part of my transportation needs. Increasingly poorly maintained roads, everyone else driving a giant tall truck, and too much traffic mean an SUV or Crossover is the smart choice. At least around where I live.

Also serious sports cars now have far too much performance for getting the best of them on public roads. My Miata is a good sports car more so than some supercar.

I like the Miata. But having driven 35-100 Porsches a day (dyno testing from 1984-1989), I have a need for more power than stock. But they make parts for that. (No, I don't own one but have friends who do). By the way, the MX-5 looks a lot like the 1963-66 Chevrolet Cheetah.
For moving people & stuff, I have a 1982 Chevrolet Caprice with a NASCAR road racing style suspension & a 4.4 liter V8 modified to make an honest 200 HP & 300 LB/ft of torque with a 3.73 final drive (limited slip [3.08 first]), KYB Gas-A-Just shocks & 27" tall tires (255/60/15's). It's about 1/2" taller than stock, handles well enough with a load or 4 people, has trunk space for all, is relatively quick & gets decent fuel economy. Oh, and since I don't pull more than about 3000 lbs., it will pull what I need to pull.
My current daily driver is a 2012 Lexus ES 350 with 44,000 miles & better struts (KYB Gas-a-just), better tires (MICHELIN CROSSCLIMATE2 Grand Touring All-Season 215/55R17 94V) & a mini receiver hitch so I can tow my lawn stuff to my mother's & her small boat for bottom painting when needed.

 

[EJ3]

Here's a Pontiac you don't see everyday. A buddy of mine has a shop where he works on some very unusual cars.

The original was not a Pontiac (I used to collect Pontiacs & still have a few Pontiac 400's, a 455 and a Doug Nash 5 speed manual trans with the BOP Bellhousing)
There are, however a number of very good copies built on various chassis. Here I would like to present the original, designed by George Barris:

The original

A copy by Fiberglass Freaks (the original 4 cars were hand formed steel)
1966 Batmobile - Lincoln Futura Transformed for Iconic Television Series Photo

TV’s ORIGINAL BATMOBILE​

Designed exclusively for the hit 1966 "Batman" TV show starring Adam West and Burt Ward. This automotive wonder was styled and engineered with the many different special effects innovations by Barris Kustom Industries. Originally it started off as a $250,000 1955 Ford Lincoln Futura concept car. With a deadline of 3 weeks this Lincoln was transformed into the world’s most famous car.

Weight is 5500 pounds and it has completely hand formed steel body. Wheel base is 129 inches; overall length is 206 inches and the top height is 48 inches. Powered by a 429 Ford Full Race engine, Moon equipped, NitroOxide Thrust Front end design characteristic is the face of a bat with the hood scoop extending down into the frontal area accentuating the nose. Right and left eyes extend into the ears with dual 450 watt laser beams installed in amber reflective lenses. Hood scoop follows the front area with a hydraulically operated steel chain and cable cutter blade.


Hidden behind the ears are functional headlights for normal street driving. The grille cavity is the mouth of the bat with the internal mounted rockets. Dual 84 inch rear bat fins are in line with bullet proof steel as added protection for Batman and Robin. Operable red reflective taillights are mounted in the rear of the bat fins. Four 6 inch flared eyebrow bullet proof wheels wells are formed and used as tire protectors. Ten inch wide Rader wheels made of steel and power thrust alloy use traction grip Oval Firestone tires. The rear upper panel has triple rocket tubes and are on an automatic theft control system with shooting colored fire rockets. 360 degree turning is made possible by pulling the emergency bat turn lever that releases and billows the bat impression twin parachutes on a 25 foot nylon cord. Turbine exhaust finned air cooling rear tube is mounted on the V cavity rear grille section with both parachutes installed on each side. Twin aircraft streamlined plexi-glass bubble windshields and top section are made bullet proof and matching in design.


The center safety roll bar arch is made of alloy steel and equipped with operable flashing lights, right and left trouble shooters and miscellaneous warning lights, and then attached to the double bubble top. Twin body contoured air foam bucket seats are formed into the cab compartment of Scottish grain black naugahyde in horseshoe designs, pleats and rolls, black nylon shoulder body and safety belts are fitted for Batman and Robin. The center consul incorporates the power accelerator T arm and the Batman fire extinguisher. Steering wheel incorporates right and left turn indicator buttons made in half aircraft design with all the dials, gauges and speedo installed in center hub.


The dash is equipped with many different Batman innovations such as the Batscope that is hooked up with a revolving closed circuit antenna to bring the Batman full vision plus the Bateye switch for anti-theft control, the antenna is for an information radio wave pickup of messages and computering from the Batcave with an electronic unit installed in trunk. A Detect-a-scope is used to determine the area in which Batman or Robin are in, also the Batray reactors and laser beam button controls, plus many flashing warning lights and directional electronic systems.


Attached to the anti-fire theft control systems are swivel 5-way nozzles that eliminate any fire throughout the vehicle. Ad double cable control exhaust cutout system are used for sound volume. To finish off this different one of a kind vehicle are 40 coats of super gloss black and then is trimmed in an outline of fluorescent cerise.

 

[mglobe]

I had not read what Dan Neil said, but had that conclusion myself. It isn't huge, tall or small. Sort of a large hot hatch 4 door luxury thing. It actually looks appealing to me in lots of ways. Do I trust GM to get this right?

Have you ever trusted them before?

 

[Blumlein 88]

Have you ever trusted them before?

I have a C5 Corvette. Headlight cover gear is the only issue I've had with it. Lots of people I know with other GM products sure seem to have more than their share of electronic issues along with a few other things depending upon the model. They seem to make a drivetrain that can keep on going, but you'll hate it for other reasons. What does an electric car have more than an ICE car? Lots and lots of electronics.

 

[pseudoid]

Batmobile:
View attachment 247847

Almost 20 feet in length, the Batmobile was based on the platform of a 1967 Chevrolet Impala found in London. It was powered by a 327-cubic-inch V-8 Chevrolet engine mounted low in the frame. Rolls-Royce jet engine components were used to form the hood-mounted intake, and turbine blades in the nosepiece were sourced from a British Harrier fighter jet. This example was one of five cars authorized by the studio for promotional purposes. link

The original was not a Pontiac (I used to collect Pontiacs & still have a few Pontiac 400's, a 455 and a Doug Nash 5 speed manual trans with the BOP Bellhousing)
There are, however a number of very good copies built on various chassis. Here I would like to present the original, designed by George Barris:

 

[mglobe]

I have a C5 Corvette. Headlight cover gear is the only issue I've had with it. Lots of people I know with other GM products sure seem to have more than their share of electronic issues along with a few other things depending upon the model. They seem to make a drivetrain that can keep on going, but you'll hate it for other reasons. What does an electric car have more than an ICE car? Lots and lots of electronics.

All true. I’ve only owned one GM product, a Silverado 2500 Duramax. Good truck but I like my F250 better. I’d trust them on a truck or a Vette. But on new technology I would pass.

 

[EJ3]

Almost 20 feet in length, the Batmobile was based on the platform of a 1967 Chevrolet Impala found in London. It was powered by a 327-cubic-inch V-8 Chevrolet engine mounted low in the frame. Rolls-Royce jet engine components were used to form the hood-mounted intake, and turbine blades in the nosepiece were sourced from a British Harrier fighter jet. This example was one of five cars authorized by the studio for promotional purposes. link

Not the TV show BATMOBILE that was being talked about. I guess we could call it 2.0? At any rate, there are pictures and video of the two together. (&, of course there are/will be newer generations as more movies get made).

 

[beefkabob]

Cross Turismo 4S
Given I won’t buy an SUV or crossover there are very few EV choices for me.

Nice. I mean, technically, it does say "cross" in the name for a reason.

I'm a huge fan of our I-Pace. BMW has better engineers than Jaguar, but Jaguar has a grander vision. Is it a crossover? It can go off road, but it also handles quite well. Not Taycan or i4 well, but still quite solid.

If I lived in Oxfordshire, I'd pick up a GR Yaris for shits and giggles, as in my passengers shit themselves as I giggle.

 

[andrewjohn007]

sure looks like it

with all the cars i've been around for the best part of my life (since growing up around them; my old man worked in a body shop for the best par tof his life), that one became my first love, almost an obsession...

it looked just like this:

I can't be the only one that thinks the new BMW M CSL is #*$Y(##Y%#Y$&. Breaks my heart. Hideous.

 

[Ken1951]

I can't be the only one that thinks the new BMW M CSL is #*$Y(##Y%#Y$&. Breaks my heart. Hideous.

Looks like a bad custom option for an AMT model car 3-way build circa 1964.

 

[bloodshoteyed]

when Bangle i came in as lead designer in threw up in my mouth a little...then they settled down a bit and now....now i just don't care anymore

the last remarkable beemer was the E39, which was designed by a....japanese....
damn i miss my black pre-mopf 523i


PS
beaides the fugly cancerous kidneys anf the proportions in general......as a goddamn coup, where's the legendary Hoffmeister knick???

 

[DavidMcRoy]

I can't be the only one that thinks the new BMW M CSL is #*$Y(##Y%#Y$&. Breaks my heart. Hideous.

I've long had mixed feelings about BMW styling, with hits and misses here and there. I recently drove a rental 2022 330i that I liked very much, although it looked rather dated. But this car reminds me of the styling excesses of the Honda Civic Si with its many surperfluous flaps and ailerons that suggest daily track use. Kind of silly. And those enormous grilles BMW has been doing lately?

 

[mglobe]

I can't be the only one that thinks the new BMW M CSL is #*$Y(##Y%#Y$&. Breaks my heart. Hideous.

Every time I see that new grill I think of this.

 

[Mr. Widget]

I can't be the only one that thinks the new BMW M CSL is #*$Y(##Y%#Y$&. Breaks my heart. Hideous.

Absolutely hideous!

The 3.0CS and Z8 are two wonderful examples of what they can do... occasionally, but rarely do.

 

[thewas]

beaides the fugly cancerous kidneys anf the proportions in general......as a goddamn coup, where's the legendary Hoffmeister knick???

BMW currently just trashed all over their nice design traditions, even in the interior with those hideous rising speed and rpm gauges like on a 60s fintail Mercedes:

I used to love BMWs and own several ones like E34, E36, E46, E39 and when the bangle designed E60 came out I moved to a competitor, when Bangle left I liked and bought 2x F10 again but now have moved again to a competitor as I find all current BMWs damn ugly.

BMW customer department often calls them to ask me if I am interested in buying a BMW again and my answer currently is only when they change their design back to their classic values and not optimised for some weird cartoonish fantasies and export markets.

 

[Dialectic]

Always looked like a front-engined Corvair to me...

 

[Trouble Maker]

Honda Civic Si

That's a Type R, it is designed for the track.
Also, this is the latest one.

 

[Willem]

BMW and Mercedes styling increasingly seems to cater for the aggressive dreams of Russian kleptocrats and the like. By and large, I think for refined styling you have to go Italian, and just occasionally (but not that often anymore) French. Of German cars, the best looking ones in my view are the smaller Volkswagen models like the Up or the new ID3.

 

[PatentLawyer]

BMW and Mercedes styling increasingly seems to cater for the aggressive dreams of Russian kleptocrats and the like. By and large, I think for refined styling you have to go Italian, and just occasionally (but not that often anymore) French. Of German cars, the best looking ones in my view are the smaller Volkswagen models like the Up or the new ID3.

When I bought my W222 S-class (photo a few pages back!), my wife said "enjoy it until you trade it in for the next one, when I will ask you why didn't you just lease it?" Well, the W223 came out and she had to tell me I was right! The exterior is fine, IMHO, but the interior just is not suitable for an S-class. All flash, all gadgets, no buttons! Who is that car for? Certainly not the traditional S-class buyer.